Astros erupt on offense to back win for Lyles Houston cruises after Villar blasts first pitch of game ...... Astros pitcher Jordan Lyles and several of his teammates made sure there would be no need for any ninth-inning drama Tuesday night. One night after rallying for four runs in the ninth inning to break a three-game losing streak, the Astros scored early and often, riding a strong outing from Lyles to blast the Mariners, 13-2, and claim a series victory at Safeco Field. The Astros improved to 8-10 this year against the Mariners, including a 5-4 record in Seattle. Lyles (7-7) worked six innings and allowed two runs (one earned) and four hits to take over the team lead in wins from Bud Norris, who was traded six weeks ago. Lyles has won three of his past four starts. The Astros pounded Mariners starter Joe Saunders (11-14), getting six runs and seven hits off him in just three innings. He was 3-1 with a 4.50 ERA in four previous starts against the Astros this year. Houston led, 6-1, after three innings. Astros shortstop Jonathan Villar hit the first pitch of the game over the left-field wall for his first career homer, and L.J. Hoes had an RBI single in the second. Houston scored four times in the third on an RBI double by red-hot Jose Altuve, a bloop RBI hit by Matt Dominguez and a two-run double by Hoes. Brandon Laird hit a two-run homer in the seventh that glanced off the left-field foul pole and put Houston ahead, 8-2. Altuve, who entered the game 18-for-40 at the plate in September, had three hits, three RBIs and swiped three bases, giving him a career-high 35 steals (he had 33 last year). Villar stole second and third on consecutive pitches in the third, giving him 16 steals in just 41 games. The Astros scored a pair of runs in the eighth on consecutive bases-loaded walks to Dominguez and Chris Carter. The 17 hits tied for the second-most this season by the Astros. They had 22 on April 9 at Seattle. Astros catcher Cody Clark went 0-for-5 to stretch his hitless streak to 24 at-bats to begin his Major League career. The Astros set a club single-season record for strikeouts when Villar whiffed in the eighth, giving them 1,366 strikeouts. They struck out 1,365 times last year. Pictured: L) Starting pitcher Jordan Lyles #18 of the Houston Astros pitches against the Seattle Mariners at Safeco Field. C) Astros shortstop Jonathan Villar hit the first pitch of the game over the left-field wall for his first career homer. R) Brandon Laird #4 of the Houston Astros is congratulated by Jose Altuve #27 after hitting a two-run homer against the Seattle Mariners in the seventh inning.
Posted on: Wed, 11 Sep 2013 05:59:58 +0000
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